St Aidan’s High School pupil Drew Sherry is a two-time World Kickboxing Champion after storming to gold in Italy last week.

The 16-year-old added to his other titles, including the Scottish and British championships, by seeing off competition from 3000 other participants from across the planet at the WKA Unified World Championships to take top spot in both the full contact and light contact categories.

It was the second time Drew had competed at the event, after claiming silver and bronze medals in Florida last year.

The young champion, who had trainers Scott and Sam Allan from Rivals Gym in his corner, said he didn’t quite know what to do once he realised he was a world champion.

“My first reaction was I dropped to my knees — I didn’t really know what to do,” he said. “I was overwhelmed.

“The Allans were in my corner, they were superb — I think they reacted more than me! They take it really personally when one of their students wins.”

Drew qualified to compete after winning gold in both categories at the Scottish Championships in February.

The Overtown youngster took up the sport after a visit to Rivals Gym in Newmains as part of his training with football side Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers FC two-and-a-half years ago.

Drew decided to leave the football behind and concentrate solely on kickboxing after the visit and, considering his family history in similar sports, it is perhaps no surprise that he took to kickboxing so readily.

He said: “My family has a bit of a background in competitive fighting, so I guess it is in my blood.

“My mum was a Scottish champion in karate and my aunties were the same.”

Drew was accompanied on the trip by his mum and stepfather for the week which saw four days of competition.

“And, although fighting lasted from 8am-8pm on those days, he still had to stay focused on his down time.

“I just went round and watched fights — I’m a fan of fighting,” he said.

“There were a couple of fighting celebrities competing there and I wanted to go around and watch them and take a bit of inspiration from that.”

Drew also paid tribute to his trainers, the Allan brothers at Rivals Gym, and his PE teacher at St Aidan’s High School, Mrs Galloway.

The youngster reckons that all have played their part in helping him become the fighter he is today.

He said: “The Allans have brought me on so much over the past year and really taken me under their wing.

“Last year, I was a good fighter but I’m even better this year because of them.

“My PE teacher has helped me so much as well. She’s done everything for me.”

Drew now has his sights set on branching out within the sport.

He said: “I just want to keep improving all the time but I’ll be looking to make a change in sport as well by moving over to K1 kickboxing, which involves knees and low kicks.

“I plan on going to university and then turning professional in three years.

“It’s difficult for me to get a fight any more and that’s why I have to travel so much but it can be hard with that and studying. I have to find a balance.”

One of his trainers at Rivals Gym, Scott Allan, said he was delighted for Drew and has high hopes for him going forward.

He said: “Drew is a talented young man willing to learn whatever we teach him.

“He always wants to train extra nights coming up to big fights and events and is a privilege to have in Rivals Gym.”

The gym was well represented in Italy, with Kia Craig performing well and golds for Jordan McCafferty, Callum MacGregor, Calum Reynolds, Kyle Adams, Liam Hastie, Jamie Murray in different disciplines as well as a bronze for Victoria Murray.

In total, competitors from the gym took home seven golds, three silvers and three bronze medals.